Tennessee Accused of Failing to Follow Health Law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The federal government is accusing the State of Tennessee of failing to provide health services required by the new health care law.

State health officials say they dispute several accusations made in a letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

According to the letter dated June 27, of seven critical success factors required of states, Tennessee had met only one. Federal officials have given the state 10 days to submit a correction plan.

Among the criticisms, Tennessee does not provide people with in-person assistance, and it has not set up a program that allows hospitals to temporarily enroll people in Medicaid if they are presumed eligible.

TennCare spokeswoman Kelly Gunderson says that the state is preparing a response. She didn't specify exactly what the state disagreed with in the letter.